Mitsui Chemicals (Tokyo / Japan; www.mitsuichem.com) plans to expand its production of “Tafmer” high performance elastomers in Jurong Island / Singapore by 8,000 t/y. The Japanese producer said it expects the project to cost JPY 2.5 bn (EUR 25m), including investments in warehouse and logistic facilities. Completion is scheduled for October 2013.

Mitsui Elastomers Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, currently has the capacity to produce 200,000 t/y of high performance elastomers at the Jurong Island site.

Mitsui Chemicals said it expects demand for Tafmer elastomers to grow worldwide, especially in Asia, in line with economic growth and industrial advances. The elastomers are flexible and lightweight, and are suitable for applications in the automotive, industrial and packaging material industries as an enhancer to improve the characteristics of thermoplastic resins or as a base material in flexible products. The company also has production facilities for the material in Japan.